Cultivator attachment



W. A, SERIGHT CULTIVATOR ATTACHMENT Filed July 12,. 1937' Dec. 10, 1940.

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\CULTIVATOR ATTAECHMENT Filed July 12, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w ii- Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,224,800 CULTIVATOR. ATTACHMENT Warren A. Seright, Muscatine, Iowa Application July 12, 1937, Serial No. 153,225 Claims. (01. 97-47) This invention is a novel cultivator attachment, and the principal object thereof is to provide an attachment which may be readily-mounted upon motor tractors, or upon ordinary horse-drawn 5" wcultivator frames, said attachment embodying members carrying ground working tools adapted to be raised and lowered by mechanism permitting .a maximum of movement in a limited amount of headroom, said mechanismmaintaining the members constantly substantially parallel to the ground surface in order that all the ground working tools carried by the members will be raised and lowered the same amount.

Other objects of the invention are to provide "'means operable from the operator's seat fior simultaneously shifting the members later-ally of the tractor or cultivator frame to adjustthe members with respect to the axis of the row of vines or plants being cultivated; to provide means for varying the spacing between the members; to

provide adjustable means for counterbalancing the members so that a substantially constant lifting force is exerted on the members in all positions thereof; to provide means for maintaining g5;the members in lowered position; also to provide said members with rake attachments at their forward ends for lifting the runners of the vines or plants and for; cultivating close to the roots thereof, said members carrying at their rear ends :cultivatorshovels staggered with respect to the 0 a rake attachments. The rake attachment however is an individual element that can be replaced with an ordinary cultivator shovel if desired.

Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I willexplain the'invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same;

.zand will summarize in the claims thenovel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a conventional mo- ..tor tractor showing my novel cultivator attachment applied thereto with the ground working implements raised above the ground surface.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1. v 7

50 Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of my cultivator attachment detached.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the attachment and adjacent parts of the tractor illustrating the vertical movement of the ground tool carrying mem- 55 ;=bers, the same being shown in raised inoperative position in full lines, and in lowered or ground engaging position in dotted lines.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic view illustrating the positions assumed by the counterbalancing spring.

The attachment isillustrated in connection with a motor tractor of conventional type consisting of a tractor frame including side bars A which preferably comprises pipe sections suitably connected together and carrying upon their front ends the motor B below which are disposed the usual steering wheels C pivoted by suitable mechanism (not shown). At the rear ends of the side bars are the drive wheels D driven from motor B, and over wheels D are disposed fenders F. 'An operator's seat E is also provided at said end. The details of the tractor form no part of my present invention. v

My novel attachment is mounted below side bars A and between wheels CD, and preferably comprises a cross member I fixedly secured to side bars -A by U-bolts 2 or the like, and having its ends flanged downwardly as at Ia beyond the sides of the tractor frame provided with spaced vertically aligned bearings |bfor paralleljhorizontal shafts 3 and 4 carrying adjacent their ends sets of parallel links 5 -6 having bearings Ear-6a (Fig. 3) respectively disposedone above the other journaled upon the shafts.

Adjacent the rear end of each set is a U-shaped plate 1 embracing the links 56, pivot bolts .la transfixing the plate and links whereby the links of each set are maintained in parallel relation and whereby as the links 5 and 6 of each set are swungv up and down the related plate will'move upand down while maintaining its axissubstantially vertical throughout such movement.

The front ends of the links 5 and 6 of each set are connected together by straps 8 pivoted thereto as at 80., and a rod 9 transfixes straps 8, said rod having series of spaced perforations therein to receive cotter pins or the like engaging the opposite faces of the straps to permit adjustment of the spacing between the sets of links 5 to suit the spacing of the rows of vines or plants being cultivated.

Means are provided for simultaneously shifting the spaced sets of links 5-45 onshafts 3 and 4 to align the sets with respect to the 'rows of vines or plants, the shifting means shown comprising a segmental gear l0 journaled on a stub shaft in a bearing bracket H mounted upon one end of the cross-member I, which bracket isalso provided with a bearing I la fora shaft [2 carrying a pinion l 2a at its lower end meshing with the 5.51. the-link 5- in ord'er'to increase-or lessenthe leversegmental gear. Segmental gear ill carries an arm Hia having a ball and socket connection 1% with a link Hic whose opposite end has a ball and socket connection Hid (Fig. 3) with a fixed lug [lie on rod 9 whereby as shaft 12 is rotated rod 9 will be shifted laterally with respect to the axis of the tractor. The upper end of shaft i2 is journaled in a bracket l3 secured upon the adjacent fender F and carries a hand wheel M or the like within convenient reach from operators seat The upper. end. of. shaft l2 howeven may besupported in any other desired manner.

Non-rotatably secured to the inner face of eachplate I is a horizontal frame member I3 carry:

ing at its front end a. clamp I la for the" shank" of a harrowing tool [4 such as disclosed'in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,075,475 issued March 30, 1937, each said tool l4 having one or more staggered teeth l4b (Fig. 2) adapted to'cultivatethe ground close to the roots of the row of Vines or plants; the leading ends ofthe opposed tools I4 converging, as shownin Fig. 2; inord'er to stagger theteeth I41), and the leading ends carrying fingers Mcadapted to raise or shiftztherunners of the vines or plants inwardly towards the axis of the row in advance of the'teeth Mb; The-harrow attachment and'itsoperation; beingfully described-in my aforesaid patent, needs no detailed description herein. In place of the harrowattachments l4 however, ordinary cultivator shovels, or any other desired ground working tools, maybe substituted.

Frames I3 adjacent their rear ends; are providedwith outwardly offset portions I3a carrying clamps IEa for the shanks of cultivator shovels l5 of any desired type for cultivating the ground between rows, the axesof the shovels being staggered with respectto the axes of the harrow attachments M as indicated; Ifdesired,

I additional shovels may be mounted directly on the tractorframe as shown" at I 59: in Figs. 1 and 2', the additional shovels being provided with-separateframes I51; connecteddirectly to the tractor frame. in any desired manner,- and being raised and lowered by any suitable means (not shown).

Counterbalancing means areprovided for the frames It, said m'eansbeing indicated more: particularlyin Fig. 5 and comprising ahook- 1bmounted at the lower forward corner of each plate 1.1, said hook being engaged by the lower end of a spring IS theupper end of which engages ahook lid on an adjustable member I1. mounted uponthe upper link 5 of each set. Clamp I! may be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly uponage actiono-f the spring l6, so that by proper adjustment of the clamp I I the frame l3 can be raisedor lowered with the greatest of ease by the operator. When the" frame I3- is in lowered position the link 5 assumes the position shownin full linesin Fig. 5 and the hook Ila is disposed adistanceden'oted by the linea from the vertical'axis :c of pivot bolt Ia of link 5 in the plate T. When frame 13 is in raised position thelink 5 assumes the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 5, but the hook Ila will be shifted from thevertical axism'of the bolt 1a a distance denoted by the line-b in Fig. 5, while'the'spring l6 has decreased in length. Thus the decreased tension of the spring when the frame is in raised position is substantially offset by the increased leverage occasioned by the shifting of thehook l'la for as each frame'IB is lowered the. top of its related spring l6 moves rearwardly decreasing. the leverage by the difference between the lines I) and a of Fig; 5,

while the spring lengthens, thereby rendering the spring lifting action on the frame nearly constant for any position, so that when the operator releases the pressure on the foot pedals 20 (hereinafter described) each spring I6 will automatically raise its related frame l3 and disengage the ground working elements [4 and I5. I thus provide an individual yieldable lift for each frame 13, also a lift which is adjustable since each-clamp l1 may-be shifted on bari toincrease or decrease the tension of: the". spring.

The means for raising and lowering the frame t3 comprise a swivel socket I32) on each frame I3 adjacentv the rear end receiving a head on one end of a lever IS, the swivel connection permitting the frames [3 to be shifted laterally of the tractor frame. The other end of each lever le hasa: swivel and pivotal connection with the lower end of a foot pedal 20 conveniently passing through a slot A in the side bar A of the tractor frame (Fig; 4) within easyreach from-the op'erators seat E; Spring I B- will cause the. relatedframe I 3 to riseintoinoperative positionshown. infull-lines in Fig. 4 when the operator'releases pressure on the foot-pedals'lfla The frames [-3 are thus always: maintained: in: a substantially horizontal position, and therefore the front as well as the back: end ofeach frame will beraised abovethe ground with a very short lift permitting use of the attachment onimple-- men-tswhere only a limited: amounhof: heact room is available. Also: the lateral shifting means em ables the operator ta constantly maintain the ground engaging elements I4 and l 5' in correct alignment with respect" to the axiscf the:- row of vinesorplantsbeing cultivated.-

My cultivator attachment i's-not limited to use.

only" on the type of tractor: shown in. thedrawings, for obviously same maybe usezt on anysotherx type of tractor, or'on any horse drawn equipment such asasulky or other wheeled. cultivator.

frame;

I cl'aimi 1'. A cultivator attachment for whe'el'ed vehi cl'es having side bars; comprising a member adapted end of the plate whereby as the plate i'slowered'.

the. increase in length of. the. spring will' be offset by a decrease inleverage of the-upper end-of. the spring from the axis ofthe. plate to maintainv a substantially constant lifting action on the-plate.

2. A cultivator attachment. for wheeled vehicles having side. bars; comprising a. member: adapted to be secured to a. bar; a plate; parallel; links: pivota'lly connecting the plate'with said member for permitting substantially vertical movement of the plate; a substantially horizontal frame car'- ried by the plate; ground engaging tools carried by said frame; means exerting a substantially constant lifting force on the plate for" any position of the plate within its working; limits; and means for depressing the frame; said side bar having a slot; and said frame depressing means to be secured to'a bar;

horizontal frames carried by the plates; ground.

comprising a foot pedal connected with the frame adapted to 'slidably'engage' the slot.

3; A cultivator attachmentfor heeled vehicles having side bars, comprising a member adapted a plate; parallel links pivotally connecting the plate with said member for permitting substantially vertical movement of the plate; a substantially horizontal frame car.- ried by the .plate; ground engagingtools carried by "said frame; means exerting a substantially constant lifting force on the plate for any position of the plate within its working limits; and means for depressing the frame; said ground engaging tools comprising a harrow implement at the front end of the frame having staggered teeth and having vine raising means in advance of the teeth; and a cultivator shovel at the rear end of the frame staggered with respect to the harrow implement.

4. A cultivator attachment for wheeled vehicles having side bars and a steering mechanism, comprising a cross member adapted to be secured to the side bars; a pair of plates; laterally shlftable parallel links pivotally connecting each plate with said member for permitting substantial vertical movement of the plate; means for adjusting the distance between the plates; substantially horizontal frames carried by the plates; ground engaging tools carried by each frame; means exerting a substantially constant lifting force on each plate for any positions of the plates within their working limits; and means for depressing each frame; transversely disposed parallel shafts mounted in said cross member upon which the links of each plate are mounted; said distance adjusting means comprising strap members connecting the links of each plate; a rod transfixin the strap members; means for adjusting the strap members on the rod; a swingable arm; means independent of the steering mechanism for swinging the arm; and means connecting the arm and rod for simultaneously shifting the plates laterally with respect to the axis of the vehicle.

5. A cultivator attachment for wheeled vehicles having side bars and a steering mechanism, comprising a cross member adapted to be secured to the side bars; a pair of plates; laterally shiftable parallel links pivotally connecting each plate with said member for permitting substantial vertical movement of the plate; means for adjusting the distance between the plates; substantially horizontal frames carried by the plates; ground engaging tools carried by each frame; means exerting a substantially constant lifting force on each plate for any positions of the plates within their working limits; and means for depressing each frame; said exerting means comprising hooks adjustably mounted on one link of each plate; substantially vertical contractile springs connecting the hooks with the lower ends of their respective plates whereby as each plate is lowered the increase in length of its related spring will be offset by a decrease in leverage of the upper end of the said spring from the axis of the plate to maintain a substantially constant lifting action on the plate.

6. A cultivator attachment for wheeled vehicles having side bars and a steering mechanism, comprising a cross member adapted to be secured to the side bars; a pair of plates; laterally shiftable parallel links pivotally connecting each plate with said member for permitting substantial vertical movement of the plate; means for adjusting the distance between the plates; substantially engaging tools carried by each frame; means exerting a substantially constant lifting forceon each plate for any positions of the, plates within their working limits; and means for depressing eachframe; said side bars each having slots; and said frame depressing means comprising foot pedals connected with the respective frames.

adapted to slidably engage the slots.

4 7. A cultivatorattachment for wheeled vehicles prising a cross member adapted to be secured to the side bars; a pair of plates; lateraly shiftable parallel links pivotally connecting each plate with said member for permitting substantial vertical movement of the plate; means for adjusting the distance between the plates; substantially horizontal frames carried by the plates; ground engaging tools carried by each frame; means exerting a substantially constant lifting force on each plate for any positions of the plates within their working limits; and means for depressing each frame; said frame having offset portions;

and said ground engaging tools comprising a harrow implement at the front end of each frame having staggered teeth, and having vine raising means in advance of the teeth; and cultivator shovels at the rear ends of the frames staggered with respect to the harrow implements.

8. In combination, a wheeled vehicle havi side bars and a steering mechanism, a cross member secured to the side bars; a pair of plates; parallel links pivotally connecting each plate with said member for permitting substantially vertical movement of the plates; means for adjusting the distance between the plates; substantially horizontal frames carried by the plates; ground engaging tools carried by each frame; means exerting a substantially constant lifting force on each plate for any positions of the plates within their working limits; means for depressing each frame; and means independent of the steering mechanism for simultaneously shifting the plates laterally with respect to the axis of the vehicle; said exerting means comprising hooks adjustably mounted on one link of each plate; substantially vertical contractile springs connecting the hooks with the lower ends of their related plates whereby as each plate is lowered the increase in length of its related spring will be offset by a decrease in leverage of the upper end of said spring from the axis of the plate to maintain a substantially constant lifting action on the plate. I

9. In combination, a wheeled vehicle having side bars and a steering mechanism, a cross member secured to the side bars; a pair of plates; parallel links pivotally connecting each plate with said member for permitting substantially vertical movement of the plates; means for adjusting the distance between the plates; substantially horizontal frames carried by the plates; ground engaging tools carried by each frame; means exerting a substantially constant lifting force on each plate for any positions of the plates within their working limits; means for de pressing each frame; and means independent of the steering mechanism for simultaneously shifting the plates laterally with respect to the axis of the vehicle; said frame depressing means com- 10 having side bars and a steering mechanism, commember secured to theside bars; a pair of plates;

parallel links: pivotally. connecting each plate.

stantiallyhorizontal frames carried by, the plates; ground engaging tools carried: by each frame;

means exerting a substantially constant lifting force on eachplate for any positioned the plates Within their working limits; means for depressing each frame; and means independent of. the,

steering. mechanism for simultaneously shifting the plates laterally withrrespect, to; thecaxiszoi the. vehicle; said frame having; offset; portions; amt-said. grnundi engaging tools: comprising a harrowiimplementiatlthe front encL of each frame, having: staggered teeth, andv having vine raising means in. advance of: the teeth; and cultivator.

shovels at the; near ends' oi. the frames. staggered WARREN A. SERIGHT. 

